Chapter 158 Disaster is coming, Jerusalem!
On the 4th of the year 1187 of the Confucian calendar, west of the Sea of Galilee.
The July sun scorches the earth, the sky is clear and cloudless, and the endless blue makes people feel suffocating.
There were broken weapons, flags, corpses, and even the fallen True Cross everywhere.
Guy slowly opened his eyes. He had fainted during the previous battle and saw a strange scene.
It was in the scorching sky, and an eagle soared above him, holding a crossbow equipped with seven crossbows in its talons. It shouted in a terrifying voice: "Disaster is coming, Jerusalem! Franks!" , your retribution is coming!”
retribution? It is indeed retribution...
From a month ago, he should not have acted rashly, and he was clearly prepared for a long-term confrontation.
After all, many of the main members of Saladin's army are actually Jihad volunteers, and many are actually allies of other Muslim sects.
Compared with the elite main force here in the Kingdom of Jerusalem, Saladin's army is just a ragtag group.
As long as time drags on and Saladin's army is shaken, the decisive battle will come.
But what about yourself?
Ha...
It was clear that Leonard had strongly opposed the battle between the armies, but Saladin's several strategic feints made Guy anxious
They were mobilized to march continuously for several days, rushing from one battlefield to another. During this period, the army's water reserves were all dried up...
The roar of the Turks on horseback seemed to still echo in Guy's ears.
Now, he has been captured together with some other nobles and sent to Saladin's royal tent.
Among these nobles, in addition to Guy himself, there were Amory, the commander of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, Humphrey, the lord of Torun, Gerald, the Grand Master of the Knights Templar, William Borrell, Marshal of the Knights Hospitaller, Montferrat Margrave William V…
When they met, Saladin treated Guy with great respect and handed him a glass of ice-cold rose water.
Then Saladin looked at Guy for a long time, and finally said: "You have followed the real king, how come you don't have the slightest bit of kingly demeanor?"
Compared with the Leper King of the past, Guy's strategic determination is too poor, and he is a piece of shit about the balance of domestic factions.
It was Leonard, the most capable person in his faction, who proposed many tactical policies, but Guy had to make a mess of them to execute them.
Saladin asked again: "Where is Leonard?"
After listening to Saladin's words, Guy did not answer immediately, but gulped down the ice water. In the past day and a half, even he had not drunk any water.
The real princes and nobles and the people below lived in completely two worlds in this era.
Garris also worked hard to make ice from saltpeter to make money from passing merchants.
And figures like Saladin directly ordered people to go to Mount Hermon to mine ice and transport it by land for their own enjoyment.
Feeling the rose ice water dissipating the summer heat, Guy replied casually: "Breaking through the encirclement. He had already sensed something was wrong before falling into the encirclement and refused to march together."
Saladin smacked his lips, feeling rather regretful. He could only lament that Leonard was as good as a dog and had a terrifyingly strong sense of tactics.
He lacked this ability and missed the fighter planes many times, but he eventually won the most critical battle.
Now it's time for Saladin to enjoy the feast of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
Saladin sorted out the various captured noble lords and classified them. Except for some who were held for ransom, some, such as Humphrey, were sent to the most suitable place - Karak City.
Strictly speaking, the owner of the land in Transjordan is not Leonard, but belongs to Stephanie.
Leonard was able to exercise the power to rule only because he married Stephanie.
However, Stephanie and Leonard did not have children, and her only child was Humphrey.
Therefore, when Humphrey's token was delivered to the parliament in Karak City, the members of the parliament fell into crazy quarrels and passed the blame.
Because these congressmen all know one thing, their lord Stephanie, that woman! She will definitely sell out Karak City for the safety of her children! Adil's envoy was sent away, leaving a noisy council chamber.
The mottled stone walls confined the voices in this narrow and high space. After the outsiders were gone, the council members from the upper city stood up and insulted them even more fiercely.
"Bernard, you idiot! If I listen to your advice, those Muslims will rush in and kill us all! Steal our money and sell the women into slavery!"
"Idiot! Idiot! That old woman Stephanie must surrender! She can't let go of that idiot son! We can't let her betray us!" A long-bearded congressman roared loudly.
"So you're going to sell us all?!" The middle-aged man put his hands on the table, his face as gloomy as a cumulus cloud.
"Stop making fearless sacrifices, Yug! Saladin has always been polite and courteous. As long as the terms are negotiated, we will be safe!"
"Damn it! You're a piece of shit Italian guy, you don't have a manor here, you can run away with your wealth, what about us?! It doesn't hurt to stand and talk, right?"
"Who are you calling a piece of shit Italian!"
"Whoever responds is a piece of shit Italian!"
"Coward!"
"Stupid donkey!"
"Idiot!"
Some of them wanted to surrender, some were reluctant to part with the manor, and some were unwilling to give up their shops or workshops in the city.
Red-brown cassocks and dirty linen robes intertwined into chaotic colors in the hall. As someone tore off each other's clothes, a group fight began.
The Bishop of Karak City, Amedeh, watched the gang of gentlemen in the city fighting like gangsters. Veins popped out on his forehead. He clenched his hands into fists and hammered the table in front of him several times.
"The meeting is dismissed!"
"The meeting is dismissed!"
In an instant, the noise stopped suddenly, and everyone stared at Bishop Amedei.
"I will go talk to that woman Stephanie and determine her attitude."
Listening to the bishop's words, the congressmen tightly closed their mouths that were still furious just now, but the flashing meaning in their eyes already showed that they had different Xiao Jiujiu in their hearts.
When Bishop Amedei left the council chamber, he couldn't help but look back at the not-so-tall building, and then cursed in a low voice: "How can you do good politics with these insects?"< br>
The parliamentary system is quite ancient on the Mediterranean coast.
Regarding the traceability of the parliamentary system, it should actually be the earliest common deliberation in the tribal era.
Ancient Mesopotamia around 3000 BC also had a clear parliament composed of elders.
In ancient Rome, various cities imitated the model of the Roman Senate and established local city councils.
As for the Middle Ages, starting from the 11th century, due to the rise of urban revival and trade development, many medieval cities gradually gained autonomy and governed themselves through city councils.
These councils, usually composed of local elites, manage the city's daily affairs, economic activities, and external relations.
Karak City, through an agreement with Stephanie's mother, already had certain autonomy decades ago.
They signed a "city charter" by paying high taxes.
The content of the charter generally states that the parliament enjoys powers such as urban management and construction, legislation and justice, and public security management.
Since the main tax payers are the rich people in Karak City, or some small nobles, the parliament of Karak City is not elected, but passed down from generation to generation in some families.
These rich people determine the fate of Karak City, and the craftsmen and even the coolies in the lower city are not even qualified to attend.
Bishop Amedei left the parliament in Karak City and walked into Karak Castle through a flattened suspension bridge. In the castle, he heard the heart-rending roar and crying of the woman.
The bishop realized one thing. He was unable to have any productive communication with Stephanie, the mother of her only child who was controlled by the enemy.
Third update (additional update)
(End of chapter)